CHENNAI: Cyclone Nilam made landfall on the Tamil Nadu coast between Mahabalipuram and Kalpakkam on Wednesday evening with strong winds. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the cyclone started crossing the coast around 4.45pm and is expected to cross the coast in about two hours. Strong winds have been recorded and wind speed is expect to touch 110kmph.

Mahabalipuram was an ancient port city around 55km from the state capital Chennai and is popular tourist destination. Kalpakkam is known for its nuclear plants and affiliated research installations.

Earlier, Cyclone Nilam has shown its strength even before it crossed the coast, sending an oil tanker in the Bay of Bengal drifting towards the Besant Nagar beach on Wednesday afternoon.

A lifeboat carrying 14 people from the ship capsized in the choppy waters, and fishermen rescued and brought to shore six of them. Eight others were still on the boat at 4.30pm.